Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-18
FAIR PLAY WANTED,


The State, Of Richmond, Va, in COM
menting upon the censure bestowed upon
the Old Dominion by northern Journals
that are unacquainted with, or criminslly
hostile to the state of Virginia, makes q
thorough explanation of the situation in
az elaborate review of the debt question
OF that state, and asks that The Demo
cratic party be absolved from any re-
sponsibility whatever for the failure to
pay the bonds. The Democratic party
OF Virginia twice erode into the laws of
death, into the mouth OF hell,n in an eff
fort to secure the payment of the honest
debts of the state. In 1879 the
Democrats were defeated by Malone and
his readjusters and again in 1881, when
the willy politician, aided and assisted by
the Republicans, carried the state. The
Democrats have always been willing to
pay their just dues, but there are enough
Republicans and readjusters to defeat
them every time the question is submit
ted. The Democratic party was rent and
torn asunder in two efforts made to
bring about an amicable adjustment of
the state debt. They have once more
obtained control of the state and it is I'M
just to ask of them that they again annihi-
late themselves on this question. Cred
itors should, before condemning the
Democrats of Virginia, read the
history of that party's struggles
and sacrifices in their efforts to pay their
debts. The party has done all in It's
power 1t has exerted every energy and
effort, even to desperation and the de-
struction of its own existence on two
occasions, and more sacrifice should not
be asked or expected at present. The
once grand and wealthy commonwealth Is
penniless. The products with which a
generous soil would have enriched her
were trampled into the earth by the tread
Of both hostile and friendly armies; her
homes were desolated, her property de-
stroyed and her once beautiful valleys, re-
splendent with natures choicest and arts
most priced and rarest gifts, were desc
,rated by the ruthless hand of grim
yisaged war. Where all was beauty and |
ife and light, shameless vandalism scat
cred woe, death, and the gloom Of an
almost eternal despair. Not alone this:
When o:her states were binding their
wounds, repairing waste places and re-
rieVing their fallen fortunes, the proud
spirited Virginians were specially set
part as the chief objects for the in
clearance and persecution of reconstruct
ionists, and, when this yoke was taken
rom the necks of the people, they were
obbed and plundered by the irresponsl-
lie cohorts of the Malone ring The
tate is poor; her public schools are
rippled, and her people have not re-
overed from their losses and sufferings.
ne Democratic party is willing to make
II manner of sacrifices and pay every
arthing due, if it "took the
lanket off the bed" but the
republicans and readjusters will not
ermit them. Under the circumstances
is no disgrace to defer the payment of
hese bonds, but if those purblind CEN
ors of the east will make it q crime
7hether or not, they should be fair
nough to place the onus where it prop
rly belongs. State pride would impel
he Democrats to pay off the debt, and
tate pride is laudable, but we cannot
it for wisdom under the cir
The Mahonites will not pay
nd will not allow the Democrats to pay,
nd are to blame if blame attaches to any
ne.